GM24: Rapid (DeRozan / Ross) Reacts

Thaddeus Young, PF35 MIN | 8-13 FG | 2-2 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 18 PTS | +2Thad had the most efficient game of any 76er on the offensive end of the floor. One of Philadelphia’s mistakes may have been not going to Young more often. High point of his game was back to back baskets in the 4th quarter cutting the lead to 87-82. Low was his post defense although that is not entirely on him. Young was the only 76er to shoot over 50% from the floor excluding Lavoy Allen’s 2-3 performance.

Evan Turner, SF39 MIN | 7-18 FG | 4-4 FT | 10 REB | 4 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 21 PTS | +4“The Enigma” had a solid game stat wise but was inefficient in his mid range shooting. Obviously the shots will continue to come for Turner but at this point I would have no problem trading him for Dion Waiters. The only con to that trade would be that the 76er’s tanking regiment is better suited with Turner on the floor.

Spencer Hawes, C34 MIN | 5-10 FG | 5-6 FT | 3 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 4 BLK | 1 TO | 15 PTS | -10The Yeti had a good game considering the fact that he was the entirety of 76’s post defense friday night. Hawes had his hands full and couldn’t do the job of guarding Jonas Valanciunas and Amir Johnson alone. Valanciunas and Johnson ended up with a combined 29 points and 23 rebounds. If the 7-6 can find a way to help Hawes out on the defensive side, it may open him up for more explosive offensive games.

Tony Wroten, SG37 MIN | 8-17 FG | 2-4 FT | 3 REB | 5 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 5 TO | 23 PTS | -5Wroten is doing his job in a Josh McCown like way other than the whole getting the win thing. A lunch pale type effort with a below average shooting percentage, Wroten led the Sixers in scoring. The low shooting percentage is a little understandable, in that Wroten probably has more duties than he’s capable of handling when he is the lone true PG.

Brandon Davies, PF9 MIN | 1-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 2 PTS | -2Davies is still learning a lot about the pace of the game in the NBA so the book on him isn’t out just yet. Davies playing time will go dramatically up if he can adapt to the NBA style of defense and become a factor in the paint.

Lavoy Allen, PF17 MIN | 2-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 8 REB | 0 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 4 PTS | -3Lavoy is Lavoy and you know what you are getting with this guy. Allen did what you would expect on the defensive side and took advantage of his rare opportunities on the offensive end. I don’t think any of us were expecting a 10 and 10 game.

Daniel Orton, C1 MIN | 0-0 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | -3The trend with Orton statistically is that when he gets more minutes his performances become better. That being said, Philadunkia needs this guy to fix whatever it is that is keeping him out of the lineup because his post presence would be a huge factor.

Lorenzo Brown, PG11 MIN | 0-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 0 PTS | -3Lorenzo Brown has the talent to become a key role player on this team. Scoring opportunities are there for him but Brown has looked completely indecisive with the ball. Giving him a half confident green light going forward could be all Brown needs to start contributing to this team. Tony Wroten needs that to happen more than anyone.

James Anderson, SG30 MIN | 4-10 FG | 4-5 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 13 PTS | -9James looks a lot more comfortable coming off the bench and would probably be better suited to stay in that role. Anderson started the game out well but lost the touch down the stretch shooting just 40%. In his last 3 gms as a reserve, JA is averaging 12 points and 3 boards.

Elliot Williams, SG1 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 0 PTS | -4Williams playing time is at a standstill at the moment. Not enough of an offensive threat to gain minutes, and not big enough to be in there defensively (180 lbs).

Brett Brown
Defense was obviously the main concern of the night with Terrance Ross and Demar Derozan playing out of their minds. Part of the problem definitely goes to talent but Brown’s system isn’t fully integrated yet. Expect incremental improvements defensively as the season goes on.

Six Things We Saw Last Night…

The Sixers gave up 36 points in the first quarter which isn’t doing favors for anyone. Contesting three point shots is starting to become a weak spot for this Philadelphia squad. When Carter-Williams comes back it should help the defense from the top down.

The most refreshing thing to take away was that Philly never quit. The 76ers twice came back in the 4th Q to make it a one possession game, unfortunately they couldn’t close it out. That being said, Brett Brown has this team scrapping out there each and every night and that’s commendable.

Since starting out 3-0 the 76 have gone 4-17 including dropping 9 out of their last 10. The tank train is back on the tracks and if MCW doesn’t come back soon it will be time to start evaluating the potential lottery picks.

The Sixers gave up 108 points last night to a team that going into the game averaged 98 ppg. (18th in the League) and had not topped 100 in over a month (Nov. 9th). Additionally, in two runs vs. the 7-6 DeRozan is now averaging 30 points per night. That’s well above his season average of 21.7 ppg.

Continuing the trend opponents setting franchise records or individual players establishing career or season “bests” against the 76ers — last night Terrence Ross had a season-high 24 points; Kyle Lowry had a season-high 11 assists; and Jonas Valanciunas matched his career high with 13 rebounds.

As discussed in the Fo’ with the Foes preview the Sixers matched a season worst with 26 turnovers in Wednesday’s loss at Minnesota and so my colleague C. Smith pleaded with them to keep the turnovers under 20 vs. Toronto last night. The Sixers actually listened as Brown’s roster ONLY gave the ball away 17 times on Friday. Those 17 TOs lead to 19 Raptors points.

Alex Gorge is a scribe for Philadunkia. You can follow him on Twitter @apg3000.